Taffy

With the Christmas spirit in mind, the Stretch team has assembled a quick wish list of some items that might be useful, depending on your broadcast setup. This list is admittedly rangy (we’re talking Tulowitzki-esque range… shameless I know, but I have to dish out my Colorado love where I can) in terms of budget hit and practicality, but we hope you find an item or two on here that piques your interest.

Fear not those of you who might be averse to pepper spray in the face, you won’t have to run out to Wal-Mart and fight the holiday madness… e-Santa can bring you most of these items from the comfort of your sofa.

Alesis Pro Audio dock for iPad/iPad2 ($199.00):

This is a nifty little tool that actually docks your iPad and turns it into a professional mixer. Surely in the creative and tinkering hands of our clients there are some brilliant applications for this device, but right off-hand we could envision this little gem as a useful way to record and store interviews/voiceovers etc… In conjunction with the Skype app, it might even be possible to dial in to our system and use this as an entirely self-contained broadcast setup (we haven’t tested this fully, but plan to do so in the near future).

Alesis 4 channel USB mixer ($79.99):

This is a great item that we often suggest to clients looking for an affordable, easy way to broadcast audio using their computer and Flash Media Live Encoder (or in some cases Wirecast). For about $80.00 you can get this 4-channel mixer that interfaces with the USB port of your computer. There are two XLR inputs with individual gain controls, four 1/4″ outputs, and main/headphone outputs with individual level controls. This is a great, inexpensive way to get a broadcast up and running. All you need is this mixer (other models available with more channels), a laptop running FMLE, a headset or two and you are ready to go!

TriCaster 300 ($9,995 – Education rate):

While many of our schools already use a TriCaster, most of the older models don’t support HD streaming. As we venture into the world of HD, the TriCaster 300 (NewTek’s most affordable model with HD for $10 K) sets the stage for schools who want to stream their broadcasts in stunning 720p.

JK Audio RemoteMix 4 ($1,395 – Retail rate):

The thing we love most about the RemoteMix 4 is the bluetooth compatibility. If you do a fair number of cell phone broadcasts, this mixer is for you – no more need to run a cable between the cell phone and the mixer! So, yeah, you can broadcast from your pocket. Pretty cool.

I.AM Transmitter ($99.95-$295.00):

Perhaps you’re not on local radio, but would love to be able to have your fans listen to your call while they’re AT the game. Even though we offer mobile streaming, there can be up to a 30-second delay, which isn’t real practical for fans at the venue. But with a low-wattage transmitter and antenna, you can broadcast over a radio frequency in real-time for up a 3,000-foot radius (that’s more than half a mile!). Radio Systems is currently offering their transmitter and power supply for just $99.95 (http://sales.talkinghouse.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=71) and their outdoor antenna package for $295.

Tascam Portable Digital Recorder ($199.00):

This is just an excellent all-purpose recorder with too many features to list, but some of the highlights include:

- 2 balanced XLR inputs

- Multiple recording modes so you can record with built-in mics, balanced line input or a combination of both

- Built in limiter and low cut filter for better sounding takes

- Tripod mount, mini-usb 2.0 cable (high speed file transfer), and 2 GB SD card inluded

This is an extremely versatile recorder unit that can deliver top-quality sound bites for whatever your needs.  Coaches shows, interviews, press conferences etc… Great value for the price tag!

We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!  Enjoy some down-time, crank the new Bieber Christmas album, grab a glass of egg-nog (or three) and if you’re an NBA fan like me, enjoy the magic of Lebron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin and Pau Gasol’s beard.

Merry Christmas everyone!